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Journals / Adli Bilimler ve Suç Araştırmaları / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2026

Evaluation on the Explanability of Cyber Crimes with Routine Activities Theory

Siber Suçların Rutin Aktiviteler Teorisi ile Açıklanabilirliği Üzerine Değerlendirme

Zeynep Rüveyda Gökmen(JANDARMA VE SAHİL GÜVENLİK AKADEMİSİ)0009-0004-9579-4997
Vedat Yılmaz(JANDARMA VE SAHİL GÜVENLİK AKADEMİSİ)0000-0002-3112-9371
Pages
1–15
Publication Date
2026-04-17
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Findings indicate that while RAT provides a certain explanatory value in analyzing cybercrime, it falls short in addressing the unique characteristics of digital environments, such as anonymity, spatial detachment, and the role of individual online behaviors.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In contemporary societies where digitalization is accelerating, the nature of crime and its spatial occurrence have undergone a radical transformation.
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Key Findings & Data:In addition to traditional crime types that occur in the physical world, new generation crime types that occur in cyberspace necessitate the re evaluation of criminological theory and practices.
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Conclusion & Impact:Findings indicate that while RAT provides a certain explanatory value in analyzing cybercrime, it falls short in addressing the unique characteristics of digital environments, such as anonymity, spatial detachment, and the role of individual online behaviors.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Siber Suçlar · Rutin Aktiviteler Teorisi · Dijital Güvenlik

Abstract

In contemporary societies where digitalization is accelerating, the nature of crime and its spatial occurrence have undergone a radical transformation. In addition to traditional crime types that occur in the physical world, new generation crime types that occur in cyberspace necessitate the re evaluation of criminological theory and practices. This study aims to evaluate the explanatory potential of the Routine Activity Theory (RAT) in the context of cybercrime from a theoretical perspective. Originally developed for analyzing conventional crimes, RAT explains criminal events through three key elements: the presence of a motivated offender, the availability of a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardians. This paper examines how these components can be conceptualized in digital environments and identifies their cyber equivalents. Findings indicate that while RAT provides a certain explanatory value in analyzing cybercrime, it falls short in addressing the unique characteristics of digital environments, such as anonymity, spatial detachment, and the role of individual online behaviors. Accordingly, the study concludes that fully adapting RAT to the cyber realm requires the integration of broader theoretical frameworks that incorporate behavioral and lifestyle factors.

Özet

Dijitalleşmenin hız kazandığı çağdaş toplumlarda, suçun doğası ve mekânsal gerçekleşme biçimleri radikal bir dönüşüme uğramıştır. Fiziksel dünyada gerçekleşen geleneksel suç türlerinin yanı sıra, siber uzayda meydana gelen yeni nesil suç biçimleri, kriminolojik teori ve uygulamaların yeniden değerlendirilmesini gerekli kılmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Rutin Aktiviteler Teorisi’nin (RAT) siber suçları açıklama potansiyelini kuramsal düzeyde değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Geleneksel suçlara yönelik olarak geliştirilen RAT, suçun meydana gelmesini motive olmuş failin varlığı, uygun hedefin bulunması ve yeterli koruyucuların yokluğu unsurlarıyla açıklar. Çalışmada, bu üç unsurun siber suç bağlamında nasıl kavramsallaştırılabileceği ve dijital ortamdaki karşılıklarının neler olduğu incelenmiştir. Bulgular, RAT’in siber suçların analizinde belirli bir açıklama gücüne sahip olduğunu ancak dijital ortamın anonimliği, mekânsızlığı ve bireysel dijital alışkanlıkların rolü gibi özgün unsurlar karşısında yetersiz kalabildiğini göstermektedir. Bu bağlamda RAT’in dijital ortama tamamen uyarlanabilmesi için bireysel davranış örüntülerini de içeren daha geniş kapsamlı kuramsal yaklaşımlara ihtiyaç duyulduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Gökmen, Z. R., Yılmaz, V. (2026). Evaluation on the Explanability of Cyber Crimes with Routine Activities Theory. Adli Bilimler ve Suç Araştırmaları, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2026, 1–15. https://ajindex.com/articles/1643873

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